Neurodivergency is natural. It’s normal. It’s not a disease or a disorder. It simply refers to brains (and bodies and nervous systems) that work a little differently from what we might call ‘neurotypical’ or average.
Neurodivergent folks make up about 25% of the world’s population – enough people for society to take seriously and understand. For clinical, educational, and social services purposes, we usually refer to different types of neurodivergency, or different neurotypes. So, 75% of us would be neurotypical neurotype, the remaining 25% would be neurodivergent. The more common types of neurotypes are autism, ADHD, learning differences, and mood dysregulation.
What is Neurodivergency?
What is Neurodivergency?
What does ‘Spectrum’ mean?
What does ‘Spectrum’ mean?
Are labels necessary?
Are labels necessary?
Do I need a diagnosis?
Do I need a diagnosis?
Is there an epidemic of autism or ADHD?
Is there an epidemic of autism or ADHD?
- Neurodivergency has been around forever. These are normal human variants.
How can I support neurodivergent people?
How can I support neurodivergent people?
Autism Spectrum
Typically, the term spectrum refers to the autistic spectrum, as autism is a very broad definition that can be made up of several different factors, each of which may be more or less prevalent in the individual. Additionally, intellectual difference may or may not be present in autistic individuals.
Other factors that may be present are communication differences (non-speaking, echolalia, hyperfocus on one topic, literal interpretation of language, difficulty in understanding non-literal language such as metaphor, difficulty understanding neurotypical social communication norms, difficulty with perspective taking), hyper or hypo physical sensitivity (seeking or avoiding certain sensory stimuli to manage regulation), differences in auditory processing and working memory (strengths or weaknesses), challenges self-regulating emotional responses due to hyper or hypo reactivity of fight or flight (adrenaline production), and need for concreteness (daily structure, black and white options, clear and concise instructions).
Because each person is different, the types and levels of need in each area is highly variable, and cannot be easily captured in a single term. As the saying goes, ‘If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.’ Some autistic people can be highly integrated into neurotypical life, holding high ranking jobs in corporations, universities, or other work environments, they marry and form deep connections, and can be highly successful by neurotypical standards. It’s important to note that this ability to ‘mask’ (hide symptomology or discomfort) can take significant emotional effort, and not all autistic people can do so.
Becoming ‘neurodivergent friendly’, whether in the workplace or community, means allowing autistic people access without the need to heavily mask. In turn this means to make accommodations for different communication styles (direct and specific communication), different management styles (frequent, friendly, and direct instruction), and even different work environments (quiet, distraction free workplaces).
Neurodivergent students and employees can bring great value to their communities, but it should be understood that they are not, and cannot be, neurotypical. Nor would we want them to be so. Failure to allow neurodivergent people to who they are results in autistic burnout, and diminishes the person’s ability to participate, and indeed diminishes their sense of self.
ADHD
Attention Deficit is known as Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder. For clinical purposes there are three types of ADHD: Attention Deficit without Hyperactivity; Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity only; and Combined type, both Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity. For shorthand, we refer to all types as ADHD.
As with Autism, there is a wide range of symptomology and different levels of impact on the individual. Common symptoms include distractibility, forgetfulness, difficulty starting or finishing tasks, hyperfocus (typically on preferred tasks), impulsivity, restlessness or fidgeting. While many neurotypical people may have these same struggles from time to time, they are not as pervasive or impactful as a person with ADHD.
People with moderate to severe ADHD may benefit from medication that calms the mind so that it can focus on needed tasks, and some people who take medication only take it on work or school days. This does not mean that that these people are ‘cheating’ to succeed, or getting an additional advantage by taking medication. All medication does is level the playing field for attention and focus so that the individual can accomplish the same level of tasks as their neurotypical peers with similar education and ability.
Students and employees with ADHD are often novel out of the box thinkers and in the right environment can deliver amazing work and solutions. Oftentimes the best environments for ADHD people allow freedom to work slightly different hours to accommodate when their medication is at its peak, to allow them to work in quiet, distraction free workspaces, and to allow them to have some novelty in their work. By and large, ADHD people don’t do well over the long-term in repetitive work.
